Poll: Circumcision: yes or know?

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Ham1:
No.

We are not Jewish. We have them baptized instead.

It is a pretty barbaric practice and obviously causes the newborn significant pain as well as risk of infection. And for what??? There is absolutely no upside to the procedure. What kind of person would cause pain to their newly born baby on a personal whim???

The most common claim that people make is that, “we didn’t want him to be different.”

My answer to that is:
  1. Only somewhere around 50% of US males are circumcised, so your son will not be in the minority.
  2. Hopefully, your son will not spend a great deal of time comparing his penis to those of other boys and hence, he will not even know that he is different.
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This is exactly why I did have my sons circumsized. My husband is and his father is not. He said that when he was little he felt that he was not manly like his father because he was different from the “man” that he idolized. I did this so my sons would not be different from their father.

I feel it was a good choice. It is pointless to go back on my views now because quite frankly there is no turning back. So if you are considering this be sure you are sure.

No sense in making others feel guilty about their choice. In some ways it is more hygenic and some have had to have it done when the child is older. At least as babies they don’t remember the “pain” .

Believe me we did not make this decison carelessly and without great thought.

btw–No infections and no problems associated with having it done.🙂
 
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MamaAtHome:
Well, I never thought I held a ‘hippy’ medical philosophy. 🙂

How far do you take the “so he will look like Daddy” reasoning? I have 4 sons, and penis aside, only 2 of them look even slightly like their father.
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It has more to do with feeling masucline. I stated that my husband felt that he was not manly like his father because the male part of him that most boys and men associate with their masculinity did not look like the man that he mostly looked up to as a “man”. Of course, this is how he felt as a child. I doubt if he expressed that feeling to anyone.

This was a concept that I had not thought about before he said this. Plus, we weighed other factors and came to our decision. I doubt that most people do not consider all factors. It makes no sense to make people feel guilty about this particular decision they feel they are made in the best interest of their child.
 
Mama at home,

My husband did make the decision for our sons to be circumcised and as the head of our household that was totally fine with me. This is not an issue with me, I only have an issue when people try to hurt others or point fingers at others by saying that they sinned or mutilated their sons by circumcising them just like if someone came down on someone for not circumcising their sons I would get upset with that, I tend to root for the under dog so to say. I take things to heart, I hate people getting hurt, I feel for people’s pain. If it was in the bible that circumcising was a sin then I would be the first to take the side of the bible but since it is not I don’t take that stand. I’ve been told by the people who know me (not on a message board) that one of the things they like best about me is how I feel so strongly and am a very, very emotional person, thus the reputation you left me certainly stung but also shows ones true colors.
 
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kamz:
Mama at home,

My husband did make the decision for our sons to be circumcised and as the head of our household that was totally fine with me. This is not an issue with me, I only have an issue when people try to hurt others or point fingers at others by saying that they sinned or mutilated their sons by circumcising them just like if someone came down on someone for not circumcising their sons I would get upset with that, I tend to root for the under dog so to say. I take things to heart, I hate people getting hurt, I feel for people’s pain. If it was in the bible that circumcising was a sin then I would be the first to take the side of the bible but since it is not I don’t take that stand. I’ve been told by the people who know me (not on a message board) that one of the things they like best about me is how I feel so strongly and am a very, very emotional person, thus the reputation you left me certainly stung but also shows ones true colors.
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Bravo!
 
I don’t think we should attack each other personally for decisions such as this, however- IF- there is no good medical reasoning, then- I think it is a duty to “debunk” all of the myths and try to encourage people to see that this is a cosmetic surgical procedure- so that one can re-think it with future sons, or help others to make an educated decision.

It is about debating the act of circumcising ones sons- it is not about who the parents are- I believe everyone on here loves their children and wants to do what is best. When we circ.ed my first son, I THOUGHT there was adequate medical reasoning, I didn’t think about things like- “Hey- God put it there with good reason”, or- “maybe the AAP is right and it is not medically neccessary”, or “maybe that flap of skin serves a purpose”, or “maybe this is extremely painful”. I really thought I was doing the right thing, as I am sure most here did too. I am saddened to think that anyone would do it for purely cosmetic reasons (ie- to make him look like daddy- who BTW- likely has hair there too, what do you do about that? My 2 yo-circ.ed. no more looks like dh in that area than my 6 month old-uncirc.ed does).

If it weren’t for people on message boards pointing out the “other side” to me on this issue, my second son would be missing part of his penis as my first son is, I am thankful that those people trusted that I could listen to a side other than my own comfort zone and not take their discussion of a topic as a direct insult to me.

patty
 
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jess7396:
I don’t think we should attack each other personally for decisions such as this, however- IF- there is no good medical reasoning, then- I think it is a duty to “debunk” all of the myths and try to encourage people to see that this is a cosmetic surgical procedure- so that one can re-think it with future sons, or help others to make an educated decision.

It is about debating the act of circumcising ones sons- it is not about who the parents are- I believe everyone on here loves their children and wants to do what is best. When we circ.ed my first son, I THOUGHT there was adequate medical reasoning, I didn’t think about things like- “Hey- God put it there with good reason”, or- “maybe the AAP is right and it is not medically neccessary”, or “maybe that flap of skin serves a purpose”, or “maybe this is extremely painful”. I really thought I was doing the right thing, as I am sure most here did too. I am saddened to think that anyone would do it for purely cosmetic reasons (ie- to make him look like daddy- who BTW- likely has hair there too, what do you do about that? My 2 yo-circ.ed. no more looks like dh in that area than my 6 month old-uncirc.ed does).

If it weren’t for people on message boards pointing out the “other side” to me on this issue, my second son would be missing part of his penis as my first son is, I am thankful that those people trusted that I could listen to a side other than my own comfort zone and not take their discussion of a topic as a direct insult to me.

patty
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:mad:
Well, I find the “cosmetic” statement insulting and judgemental. I believe that is kamz point. Some people make decisons for their children based on what they have come to conclusions about. What is the point in pushing the matter to hurt others feelings?

That statement was very hurtful. I don’t think you even read my post. So I am not sure if it was directed at me.
 
Well, I had not read your post, and I did not mean to be hurtful or insulting. I am simply stating that IF there is no medical reason (which you can disagree on, I believe the research shows there is not adequate medical reasoning, but if some people believe that a slight increase risk of UTIs and a very slight increased risk of penile cancer- is adequate- that is up to them) then- it is a cosmetic thing. Seriously- if the reasoning is not medical, what is is other than cosmetic? I am not trying to be rude, I am truly trying to understand how any reason other than medical is not cosmetic?

Patty
 
Well, if your rooting for the underdog here, take a look at the poll results, and you’ll notice that those of us that DON’T circ. are the minority. Anyway, that’s neither here nor there.

I’m not attacking anyone in anyway, to me, this isn’t a subject to get worked up about, b/c I highly doubt anyone is deciding to circ so they can inflict pain or mutilate their sons in any way. I just have never much understood the cosmetic part for a reason. I wonder where the line is drawn on that one, or, what about our daughters? What if one of your daughters breasts are smaller/bigger than yours, (yours in general, not directed at anyone) and she wants surgery to change that b/c she doesn’t feel as “feminine” as her mother??
 
Aside from the fact that it’s a hygenic issue, it’s an esthetic issue - kids don’t want to look different in gym, etc. Both my sons are young men now and are glad we chose circumcision.
 
My 4 year old wants her ears pierced b/c her friend has hers done and she wants to look like her, not a good enough reason for me 😉 .

FTR- the circ. rate in most parts of the US is now around 50%, so “locker room” is hardly the issue today that it was for men now coming of age.
 
" I wonder where the line is drawn on that one, or, what about our daughters? What if one of your daughters breasts are smaller/bigger than yours, (yours in general, not directed at anyone) and she wants surgery to change that b/c she doesn’t feel as “feminine” as her mother??"

I guess this quote was probably directed at me, LOL

That is a good point. I had not thought of it that way in regards to daughters verses sons. And it never occured to me to view circumcision as a “cosmetic surgery”.

It, pretty much, was a given that your male newborn would be circumcised. 20 years ago when my first son was born the pros and cons of this was just starting to get public attention. Sometimes you would hear that someone did not have it done. Alot of times you heard the stories about the kids that had to get them at 4 or 5 years of age. I guess I weighed all of that at the time and figured it was best to do it then then to subject them to possibley having to do it later. My husbands sentiments were probably the final evidence for us to agree to have it done. Later when I had my second son it did cross my mind to not do it but then he would be the “odd man out” in the family;).
 
Why am I always drawn to the “hot” topics? 🙂
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tee_eff_em:
I don’t know that a causal relationship was ever established, but I’ve been told there is a correlation that women with uncircumcised partners have a higher incidence of cervical cancer. (Maybe an HPV thing?)
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Here are some journal articles dealing with this topic and I find them more reliable than websites (no agendas here!).

Castellsague X, Bosch FX, Munoz N, et al; International Agency for Research on Cancer Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group.
Male circumcision, penile human papillomavirus infection, and cervical cancer in female partners.
N Engl J Med. 2002 Apr 11;346(15):1105-12.

Weaver BA, Feng Q, Holmes KK, Kiviat N, et al. Evaluation of genital sites and sampling techniques for detection of human papillomavirus DNA in men.
J Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 15;189(4):677-85.

Svare EI, Kjaer SK, Worm AM, Osterlind A, et al.
Risk factors for genital HPV DNA in men resemble those found in women: a study of male attendees at a Danish STD clinic.
Sex Transm Infect. 2002 Jun;78(3):215-8.
 
cove said:
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I guess this quote was probably directed at me, LOL

That is a good point. I had not thought of it that way in regards to daughters verses sons. And it never occured to me to view circumcision as a “cosmetic surgery”.

;).
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Thank you Cove, for not taking my question personally and getting upset. Sometimes this medium can be so difficult to convey genunie curiosity and charity. I’m not trying to be a bully, or to pic on anyone with this subject, or any other. I’m sorry if I have come across that way.

Back to circumcision, for me and my husband, we’ve only every viewed it as cosmetic surgery, after learning that all of the medical reasons have been refuted.
 
I find only purpose of these polls is to divide people. As far as I know there hasn’t been anything from Rome that prohibits circumcision. That must mean it is left to the parents to make the best decision possible. To suggest that parents do not do this is ridiculous and mean spirited.
 
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mom2boyz:
I find only purpose of these polls is to divide people. As far as I know there hasn’t been anything from Rome that prohibits circumcision. That must mean it is left to the parents to make the best decision possible. To suggest that parents do not do this is ridiculous and mean spirited.
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Oh, thankyou, I’ve been trying to word it right today and have failed very much so, but mom2boyz you have taken my thoughts and put them into words that I meant to say.
Thankyou so much :yup: :clapping:
 
I find only purpose of these polls is to divide people. As far as I know there hasn’t been anything from Rome that prohibits circumcision. That must mean it is left to the parents to make the best decision possible. To suggest that parents do not do this is ridiculous and mean spirited
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I view these polls entirely different. I see it as a forum to exchange ideas and share views and opinions, and even sometimes good information with one another. Are we only supposed to discuss things that are theological and backed by the catachism?

And remember, when you say “suggest that parents do not do this is ridiculous and mean spirited” that goes both ways. I’ve seen alot of “because there is medical evidence that it is best” - which would suggest that those of us that do not are not making the best decision. Correct?
 
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Shari:
Yes I would always have my sons circumcised. I have 3 boys and each of them had it done. I don’t think it is painful. My boys never even cried, in fact one of them slept through it. 😛 My dad wasn’t circumcised and he had to have it done when he was in his 40’s because it the tip were the foreskin is swelled shut over the tip and he couldn’t go to the bathroom. The couldn’t hardly get a cathetor in. I also have a friend whos son(he is 8) wasn’t circumcised. when he was born they lived in Washington state and their Dr. said most people chose it because of religous reasons. Well about a month and a half ago he had to have it done because of problems. I also don’t think we are mutilating our sons bodies. I know we don’t have to do it because the old covenant was fulfilled, but they still did it in the bible. And Jesus was circumcised, so between all that, that is good enough for me.
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My dad had almost the exact thing as your dad did, wow.
 
I am having a chuckle right now because I am looking back at my posts and realizing that if my husband only knew I was sharing his personal feelings on this subject in a public forum like this he would probably kill me (well, not literally;) ) .:rotfl:
 
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